Tax Director

Chicago, IL | Hybrid: 3 days in the office, 2 days work from home This is not a traditional tax oversight role. You’ll be the company’s in-house tax authority, with the autonomy to set strategy, make decisions, and build the infrastructure that supports a growing, global business. You’ll own a broad tax portfolio across a multi-entity international structure, complex SaaS revenue streams, an active M&A pipeline, and private-equity ownership. You’ll lead one direct report and a network of external advisors, but more importantly, you’ll be the person the business turns to when the answer isn’t obvious. This is a role for someone who enjoys breadth, complexity, and ownership. You’ll move between technical tax, strategic planning, M&A, international structuring, SaaS indirect tax, and executive-level partnership. You’ll have the opportunity to get ahead of issues, build processes, and directly influence how the company grows. Responsibilities: Own the quarterly and annual ASC 740 provision, including current/deferred tax, valuation allowances, UTPs, RTPs, and ETR analysis. Lead tax disclosures, lender reporting, audit support, reconciliations, and provision-to-return processes. Build scalable tax controls and documentation aligned with the broader finance organization. Own the global tax compliance calendar across U.S. federal, state/local, and international jurisdictions. Lead external tax advisors, including scope, deliverables, quality, deadlines, and fees. Manage tax audits, notices, and controversies from initial inquiry through resolution. Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and translate changes into business implications. Own the global transfer pricing framework across intercompany services, IP, and cost-sharing arrangements. Lead documentation, local files, country-by-country reporting, intercompany charges, and true-ups. Advise on entity structure, cross-border transactions, cash repatriation, withholding taxes, treaty positions, and permanent establishment risk. Model and manage U.S. international tax positions including GILTI, FDII, BEAT, Subpart F, and foreign tax credits. Serve as the tax lead across acquisitions, from diligence and deal structuring through integration. Identify and quantify tax exposures and recommend deal structures and purchase agreement protections. Partner with Accounting on acquisition-related deferred taxes and integration. Drive tax planning around cash taxes, R&D credits, legal entity structure, and post-acquisition integration. Support executives and sponsor stakeholders with transaction and financing tax analysis. Own global indirect tax across sales/use tax, VAT/GST, and digital services taxes. Determine nexus and taxability across software, hosted services, data, and professional services. Lead tax engine configuration and optimization in partnership with Finance Systems and Revenue Operations. Manage exemptions, customer tax questions, voluntary disclosures, and historical exposure remediation. Lead and develop one direct report while building a function that scales through technology, automation, and process improvement. Partner with Legal, FP&A, Accounting, Revenue Operations, People, and business leaders to incorporate tax into decisions early. Translate complex tax issues into clear, actionable recommendations for executives and sponsor stakeholders. Required Qualifications CPA and/or advanced tax degree. 15+ years of progressive corporate tax experience, including meaningful multinational in-house experience. Combination of public accounting and industry experience; Big 4 or large regional firm experience preferred. Technology, SaaS, fintech, or other high-growth environment. Deep, hands‑on ASC 740 expertise with the ability to independently own and defend the provision. Strong transfer pricing and U.S. international tax experience within a global, multi-entity environment. Hands‑on SaaS/software indirect tax experience, including nexus, taxability, and multi‑jurisdiction compliance. M&A tax experience spanning diligence, structuring, and integration. Experience managing external advisors and co‑sourced compliance. Private equity or sponsor‑backed experience. NetSuite, Avalara, or tax provision software experience. EMEA and APAC tax exposure. SOX or SOX‑adjacent controls experience. Strong executive communication skills and the ability to make sound decisions in ambiguous situations. Why This Role Is Different True ownership: Serve as the internal tax expert and own the decisions, not just the process. Broad scope: Lead income tax, international tax, transfer pricing, indirect tax, tax provision, compliance, and planning. M&A exposure: Be the tax lead on acquisitions from diligence and structuring through integration. Global complexity: Navigate a multi‑entity international structure across U.S., EMEA, and APAC jurisdictions. PE‑backed environment: Partner with executive leadership and sponsor stakeholders on tax strategy, transactions, financing, and reporting. Build, don't just maintain: Strengthen the tax function through automation, scalable processes, controls, and smart use of external advisors. #J-18808-Ljbffr Buckingham Search